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Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I am pleased to join with the distinguished Senator from New Mexico and a bipartisan group of my colleagues in cosponsoring this Senate resolution designating October 13-19 as National Character Counts Week .

This morning, like every morning before it and every morning to come, young Americans are headed off to learn their three R's--reading, writing, and arithmetic--in our Nation's schools. But as we know, the school day involves more than just the transmission of facts or the relaying of concepts. It's also about character . In the best classrooms in America our children are given the opportunity to learn and practice basic character traits such as sharing, cooperation, and respect.

The Character Counts initiative calls on all Americans to embrace the development of six attributes--trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, citizenship--as a fundamental aspect of our children's education and as a critically important means of strengthening our Nation. The lessons our young people learn as children are the ones that will stay with them the rest of their lives. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said: `Character building begins in our infancy, and continues until death.'

We live in a time when teenage pregnancy and juvenile crime are spiraling out of control. A recent poll suggests that two-thirds of Americans believe most people can't be trusted, half say most people would cheat others if they could and in the end are only looking out for themselves. These statistics and the seeming erosion in the basic norms of civility, even among our Nation's children, are ample evidence of the need for programs that promote character development.

No one would argue that Character Counts is a panacea for these complex problems. First and foremost, we need better education, stronger families, and healthy doses of individual responsibility.

Clearly the primary obligation for the building of our children's values and belief systems lies with our Nation's families. There is only so much government can do. But, with parents being forced to spend more and more time out of the house, our Nation's schools can and should play a positive role in helping to build character among America's children.

There is nothing inappropriate or heavy-handed about teaching character in our schools. These programs don't impose morality or any one group's world view. These programs teach honesty, courage, respect, responsibility, caring, citizenship, and loyalty, attributes that I believe all Americans agree upon.

These principles transcend religion, race, philosophy, and even political affiliation. For those Americans who share the goal of energizing our democracy and strengthening our Nation's character these initiatives are simply common sense.

What's more, these programs garner tangible benefits. In Connecticut, the Southwest Elementary School in Torrington implemented a character education program in September and has already seen positive results from its students. Attendance is up, students are more respectful toward their teachers and school administrators are convinced that Character Counts is responsible. The school engages parents in the effort, who along with educators and the students themselves, love the program.

While character education may not be a magical solution to all America's problems, it represents a positive effort to make a real difference in our children's lives. Character development programs for our children strengthen our lives, our communities, and our Nation as a whole.

I commend my friend and colleague from New Mexico for all of his work in this area. And I invite all my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to join us in supporting character education as a vital means of molding better individuals, strengthening families, and creating a responsible American citizenry.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues, both Republican and Democrat--and especially Senator Domenici--in submitting this year's resolution to designate the week of October 13 through 19 as Character Counts Week .

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